Somewhere Some Guy Speaks in Laz Language Fluently

Laz Institute’s chairman of the board İsmail Avcı Bucaklişi has been broadcasting for a while in Laz language about the Laz language. We interviewed him about the state of Laz language in Turkey, the Institute’s studies and his broadcast, which many Laz language speaking people connect to.

Can you tell us about the Laz Institute? Why and when was it established?

Studies about the Laz language in Turkey and in the World are very limited. After 2000s there were some studies in the academy but they were not enough. That being the case, I thought it was a necessity to establish an educational and research institute. Our studies after the 90s focused mostly on publishing such as magazines, books etc. These all brought the idea of an institute. Laz Institute was established in 2013. It is actually a first in its own field, in the world. We do not have some much money, but we try to do some studies about the Laz culture and heritage at least. Laz Institute is not a mass organization; we do not aim to bring the Laz people together.

 

Where do the Laz people live in Turkey?

They centrally locate in the east of Black Sea region in Turkey, but after the ’93 war, there was a heavy migration to Marmara region. There is a big population of Laz people in Marmara.

 

Why the Laz people do not speak in Laz Language?

Because they live in a cosmopolitan city.

 

Can you tell us about your broadcast?

It is an online programme, not a radio programme. It is a big thing for the Laz people. Somewhere some guy speaks in Laz language fluently and he does it so naturally. There are two sides to it. First, this is something interesting. Second, people get surprised and happy when they see someone speaking in Laz language fluently. Actually, they know people who spoke this fluently. It was their grandfathers and grandmothers back in their village. But they see something like this in social media for the first time. They connect to my programme, to a public broadcast –this is very important- and they can talk in their own language, express their feelings. This is something happening for the first time in Laz history.

 

When and from which channel can people listen to your programme and follow you?

I broadcast three times a week from my own account. It takes around an hour and a half.

 

https://www.facebook.com/ismailbucaklisi

Interview: Esra Atalay, 6 February 2018